There was an urgent contract posted on the deep, dark web that my program flagged. I suppose three failed kidnapping attempts will push a man to desperate measures. Forget flying under the radar, this man has essentially declared war on the Kosher Nostra.
We don’t know why. And Moshe is going to have my head.
“Yak, man, come on.” I nod at Tev, grab my stuff and follow him to our waiting vehicle outside the consortium building. We sit in strained silence in the backseat. I inhale a deep breath to center myself but end up choking.
“Good God, we are fucking rank!”
“Yeah.” I look over at Tev, and he’s got his window down and his head hanging out. I start laughing, picturing the scene fromAce Venturawith Dan Marino and can’t stop. Tears leak from my eyes as I become slightly hysterical. “Yak?”
“Yeah, man?” I manage to push out.
“You got any more of that gum?”
“That’s none of your damn business, Tev, and I’ll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs.” Our driver Zeke chuckles from the front seat.
By the time we pull up to the front doors of the compound, we’re composed. We split off to shower and find clean clothes. 25 minutes later, we’re walking into the war room. Esther would be so proud that I’m wearing clean underwear to my execution.
“Where have you been? What is going on? Why is Sophia moping around?”
“Thijs Teuling.”
“Gesundheit.” I dip my head at Steven even though I didn’t sneeze.
“He is a businessman from the Netherlands.”
“And?” Moshe is running out of patience, and I’m just prolonging the inevitable.
“And he posted a lucrative contact on the deep web about 4 days ago. The women of the Kosher Nostra…dead or alive, but preferably alive.” I drop down into my seat as the men explode. Tovah, a new and welcomed sight around the table, removes her stiletto heel and smacks it hard against the wood. Wincing, I wonder if that’s gonna leave a mark.
“If you all could untwist your fucking panties and calm the fuck down, we can proceed.”
“Why aren’t you pissed?” Tev asks his twin. “You are one of the women of the Kosher Nostra.”
She snarls at him. “You take that back.” Her temper cools just as fast as it flared. She adjusts the collar of her blouse, and shifts in her seat. “As a Jew and a female…I’m used to being targeted.You get used to it. Or you get really fucking good with a knife and gun.” She waves at me with a flourish. “Speak.”
“Ruff.” I bark at her with a roll of my eyes. “Is the name familiar to any of you?” I ask David, Steven, Morris, and Aaron. They shake their heads. I sigh; I was afraid of that. “So far as we can tell, he has never had any dealings with the Kosher Nostra, nor any of our businesses. We don’t operate in the Netherlands either. Can’t find much on him other than his exorbitant net-worth earned from a computer manufacturing company.”
“He has a vendetta against the Kosher Nostra…why?”
I sit back in my seat with a very unmanly pout. “I don’t know.”
“Yak, I want—”
“Mosh, shut the fuck up. We haven’t slept or eaten in days. Fuck, we didn’t shower until 30 minutes ago.” Tev’s voice is firm and I appreciate him sticking up for me. But I have failed. Three attacks and all we’ve got now is a name because he is desperate. “Neither one of us has seen our families.” Emotion breaks his voice and everyone notices.
“I know. I’m sorry.” My eyes bug out at Moshe’s apology. That was unexpected.
“We’re still digging, Avinu. We just stopped long enough to update everyone on what we’ve found so far.”
“Has anyone accepted the contract?”
“Not yet.” And I don’t know what to do if anyone does.
Moshe’s jaw clenches, his fingers drumming on the table. He lifts his gaze to Tovah. “I’m inclined to go full lockdown. None of the women leave this compound until the threat is neutralized.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you.”
“Is it happening?” Zilv’s head starts swiveling around. “Is it the apocalypse? The end of days?”
